Michael Damone’s mom asked him to build a home where she could feel at home and taken care of medically as she progressed through the different needs of aging. So he set out to create just that. Ground breaking on that dream has now begun in Bloomfield Hills as the Cedarbrook Senior Living facility starts to take shape.

“Back in 2006, my mom started showing some frailties and had some physical challenges,” said Damone, President of Cedarbrook Senior Living. “She looked at me and said, ‘you know, you’ve developed senior housing all over Michigan and around the country but I need something closer to home.’”

So he asked his mom, Claire, what she wanted exactly. She proposed a home that once she moved in, she would know that whatever she needed from a healthcare perspective would be there.

“So we came up with a ‘continuing care retirement community.’ In our case we have independent living, assisted living, memory care, couples care and skilled care,” he said. “Our mission is to help people celebrate life everyday. We wake up everyday trying to figure out what that means to each individual in our care.”

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Construction has begun on the 7.5-acre, 164,000-square foot facility that has plans to open in September of 2015. Cedarbrook will be the only Continuing Care Retirement Community in the Birmingham/Bloomfield area. Located at 41150 Woodward Avenue, just north of Opdyke Road, the center will contain a 1950s‐style diner – Claire’s Café – and a Napa‐inspired family dining room and gathering place for residents to host parties, as well as, outdoor courtyards, an aviation themed pub and a movie theater.

“There’s also three separate assisted living dining rooms,” he said.

The home will eventually employ more than 140 full and part-time employees that will work with the residents of the 144 units.

Damone’s mom passed away before he could finish the dream project but her memory will live on in the home.

“The demand and the need is still there. I have lots of friends who are in the same situation. Moms and dads living in their homes in the area but are looking for something different,” he said. “Claire’s Café is named after her.”

Part of what sets the facility apart includes the emphasis placed on personal strengths and relationships, focusing on the individual capabilities of residents and providing them every opportunity to thrive. There’s a partnership with the Wayne

State University Institute of Gerontology, a wellness center for optimal fitness and rehabilitation, fine dining options prepared by an on-site executive chef and access to many engaging activities.

“We’re going to be working with Wayne State so residents and their families can benefit and participate in various research programs,” he said.

“It will look more like a very nice, extended stay hotel than it will any nursing home that you’ve ever seen,” Damone said.

The full care design allows for residents who live there as independent stay can move over to the assisted living section should they have a knee or hip replacement or some other type medical procedure where they would need more care.

“You don’t have to leave the building and all the familiar faces. It’s a much, much easier move for the resident,” he said.

And the “neighbors” are ready to welcome the facility.

“Just like retaining young talent is important to the vitality of a community, so is keeping our seniors close to home,” said Reverend Monsignor Anthony Tocco of St. Hugo of the Hills Catholic Church, located directly behind the Cedarbrook site. “Our parish has been watching senior members move far away for years, and with them goes the wisdom, heart and soul of our community. Cedarbrook will be a welcome alternative.”

Damone has plans to build a similar facility out in Northville and has similar facilities across the US.

“We have a couple of buildings in Denver and in Southern California,” he said.

Cedarbrook is a rental community. Pre-leasing is now available for all residence types. Visit www.CedarbrookOfBloomfieldHills.com or call 248-955-4956.